Frame for sign

ABSTRACT

A frame for supporting a sign comprises three members which are interconnectable in such a way as to form a three-sided figure with one side forming a base and at least one of the other sides forming a mounting for the sign, each member being in the form of a hoop of tubular section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a frame for supporting a sign and inparticular though not exclusively a sign used to provide a warning ofroadworks or other excavations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Utilities and local authorities are now statutorily obliged to providesigns warning both car-users and pedestrians of roadworks and otherexcavations. The signs which may be triangular flat plastic sheets aremounted on frames usually of steel. One type of frame has asign-supporting face to which the sign is attached or mounted togetherwith supporting legs for holding the sign upright.

The present variety of frames are expensive and as they are frequentlyremoved or damaged by vandals the cost of replacement can beprohibitive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame which isless expensive than the present frames so that the cost of replacinglost and damaged frames is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention we provide a frame for supporting asign, the frame comprising three members which are interconnectable insuch a way as to form a three-sided figure with one side forming a baseand at least one of the other sides forming a mounting for the sign.

Preferably at least one of the frame sides is disconnectable from anadjacent side to enable the frame to be collapsible.

Suitably each member is in the form of a hoop which conveniently is oftubular section.

The hoop may be of polyethylene.

Preferably the hoops are of different diameters so that on collapse thehoops rest one within another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

An embodiment of the invention will now be particularly described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view from the rear and to one side of an assembled frame,

FIG. 2 is a view of a side of the assembled frame, and

FIG. 3 is a view from above and to one side of a collapsed or foldeddown frame after or before use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, the frame 1 comprises three hoops 2, 3 and 4which are interconnected to each other by means of connectors 5, 6 and 7as shown in FIG. 1. Each hoop is made of a tubular plastic material suchas polyethylene. This may take the form of a length of pipe the ends ofwhich are welded together to form the hoop. The pipe, preferably of 25mm external diameter, may be waste or scrap gas service pipe materialused to replace or renew existing metallic service pipes. Thus themanufacturing cost of the frame can be negligible. The hoops are ofdifferent diameters, hoop 2 being of the smallest diameter, hoop 3 beingof intermediate diameter and hoop 4 being of the largest diameter sothat the hoops can form a nest on collapse as will be described.

Each connector 5 and 6 comprises a tubular stub sleeve of a suitableplastic material such as polyethylene into which the hoops fit and whichin the case of connector 5 effects a permanent connection between hoops2 and 3 and in the case of connector 6 effects a permanent connectionbetween hoops 3 and 4.

The connector 7 is in the form of a releasable clip which releasablyconnects hoop 2 to hoop 4 so that the frame 1 can be assembled into thetriangular shaped construction viewed end on as seen in FIG. 2. Onrelease of the clip 7, the hoop 2 is lowered inside the hoop 3 and thenhoop 4 is lowered to surround the other two hoops 2, 3 so that a nest isformed as shown in FIG. 3 for transport or storage of the frame as thecase may be.

After assembly of the frame 1, a conventional warning triangle 8 in theform of a flat, plastic sheet can be tied to one or other of thenon-ground engaging hoops (hoop 2 in FIGS. 1 and 2).

We claim:
 1. A frame for supporting a sign comprises three members which are interconnectable in such a way as to form a three-sided figure with one side forming a base and at least one of the other sides forming a mounting for the sign, each member being in the form of a hoop of tubular section, and at least one of the sides being disconnectable from an adjacent side to enable the frame to be collapsible, the hoops being of different diameters so that on collapse the hoops nest co-planarly one within another.
 2. A frame for supporting a sign comprising three members which are interconnectable in such a way as to form a three-sided figure with one side forming a base and at least one of the other sides forming a mounting for the sign, each member being in the form of a hoop, each hoop being of tubular section and wherein at least one of said hoops is adapted to nest co-planarly within another of said hoops.
 3. A frame as claimed in claim 2, in which as least one of the sides is disconnectable from an adjacent side to enable the frame to be collapsible.
 4. A frame as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which each hoop is of polyethylene material. 